Introduction. America as the South and Alabama exceptionalism -- Rigor in historical analysis -- The vanguard: coal miners and structural power -- Social movement upsurge: associative power -- Class struggle in steel -- Paul Bunyan and the frozen logger: the mystery of woodworker unionism in the South -- Textile, where the fabric meets the road the perils of cultural analysis -- The failure of Operation Dixie: the poverty of liberalism -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the pluses and minuses of the communist party -- Conclusion. The historical balance sheet.
Summary:
"The South is today, as it always has been, the key to understanding American society, its politics, its constitutional anomalies and government structure, its culture, its social relations, its music and literature, its media focus, its blind spots, and virtually everything else. The Golden Key argues that much of what is important in American politics and society today was largely shaped by the successes and failures of the labor movements of the 1930s and 1940s, and most notably the failures of southern labor organizing during this period. It also argues that these failures, despite some important successes in organizing interracial unions, left the South (and consequentially much of the rest of the United States as well) racially backward and open to right-wing demagoguery. These failures have led to a nationwide decline in unionization, growing economic inequality, and overall failures to confront white supremacy head on. In an in-depth look at unexamined archival material and detailed data, The Golden key challenges established historiography, both telling a tale of race, radicalism, and betrayal and arguing that the outcome was not at all predetermined"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.